NOTES AND QUERIES. 1838 
of the House Sparrow (shot in Notts), a very pretty cream Redpoll, a sandy 
Yellowhammer, and a slight variety of Common Sandpiper; also a Dunlin 
with nearly white wings, given me by Mr. Mosley: these, with two varieties 
of Starlings and a white Magpie, have been added to my collection during 
the last few months.—J. Warraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Notts). 
Occurrence of the European Woodcock in Lower Sind.—Mr. Murray, 
the Curator of the Museum at Karachi, has lately shown me the skin of 
a Woodcock, which he had just prepared. This bird was picked up dead 
in General Marsden’s garden at Karachi on Dec. 20th, 1885; it had not a 
particle of fat upon it, and probably it had died from starvation. I think I 
am right in stating that this is only the second recorded occurrence of this 
bird in Sind..—E. F. Becuer, Capt. BR. A. (Karachi, Dec. 30th, 1885). 
Roosting Habits of the Common Wren.—Although I have known 
instances of the Common Wren resorting to its old nest to roost in the 
winter, 1 never before heard of their roosting in the way they have been 
observed to do of late, namely, in a cocoa-nut shell suspended from the 
eeiling of the verandah of a house at St. Lawrence. Though there is a 
plant in this nut-shell, Wrens—ten in number—regularly roosted in it, till 
the occupant of the house, to give them more room, removed the plant, 
causing them to forsake the shell. To enable these ten birds to lay up in 
so confined a space they would be closely packed.—Henry HapFiecp. 
FISHES. 
Importation of American Fish Ova.—Large consignments of White- 
fish and ‘Trout ova have arrived at the South Kensington Aquarium from 
America as a presentation from the Commissioners of that country. In 
consequence of the success attending the introduction of the first-named fish 
into this country last year, special attention is to be given to their culture 
during the present season with a view to their distribution in some of our 
chief lakes. ‘lhe National Fish Culture Association have extended their 
hatchery, and, in order to secure healthy embryos, have adopted the new 
method, viz. the underflow” system, which has been found to incubate the 
ova at a less rate of mortality than the “ overflow” system. 
Large Trout in the Hampshire Avon. —On the 23rd or 24th February 
a friend of mine (Mr. G. L. Polden), whilst fishing for Salmon, caught a 
‘Trout which is perhaps worth recording. It weighed seven pounds two 
ounces some time after it had been taken out of the water, aud measured 
two feet three inches. It was plump and well proportioned, but not being 
“in season” its colours were dull. Whether it was a true River Trout Iam 
not prepared to say, or, if a Sea Trout, I do not know that its weight is at 
all remarkable ; but I have been told on good authority that on previous 
